Tour notes

Each departure date has it's own dedicated tour note, detailing all you need to know about that tour. Whether you've already booked, or weighing up your options, please choose carefully the relevant itinerary for you.

We have the following different versions of the Inside Vietnam tour available at present.

Hung had excellent English. He had a funny sense of humour. He had a superior knowledge of Vietnamese history relating to everything from 20th century onwards.

What Tips Would You Give To Someone Else Booking This Tour

it was cooler in Hanoi than I'd expected. Consider a suitable jumper perhaps.

Do You Have Anything Else To Add

The cities have a high number of restaurants and the evenings out for a nice meal at your leisure was a highlight. We found wonderful restaurants just using a tripadviser app. But we can especially recomend Ninas Family Cafe at Hue and The Mermaid in Hoi An

Tour Code

VN

5Glynis Johns,
27/01/15

What was the highlight or most memorable moment of your tour?

If you want to see and eat your way around Vietnam, I really recommend this trip. I can honestly say it really was excellent.

Our Tour Guide was brilliant – jovial, friendly, personable and fixed any problems straight away – absolutely nothing was too much trouble for him. He was also brilliant at suggesting restaurants for lunch and dinner every single day at every single place we visited, ranging from cheap to medium priced, and organising transport to them if it was too far to walk. I really take my hat off to Son (our tour guide) for his sheer efficiency.

What Tips Would You Give To Someone Else Booking This Tour

Pack as light as possible. It's REALLY hot in Vietnam and very humid, so light clothes.

Do You Have Anything Else To Add

I was looking forward to this trip (Inside Vietnam) as it went from the top of Vietnam (Hanoi) to the bottom (Saigon) and covered just about every form of transport you could think of, from trains to planes, to cruises and san pans. We even did an overnight at a local homestay on the Mekong Delta. The different Hotels along the way were absolutely excellent – I couldn’t fault one and most were 3-4 star and very comfortable. I was paired off to share with an American lady (I’m Australian) which worked out really well – we were both considerate of the other and she was great company. The group (all English with the exception of the American and myself) all got on well (thankfully) and we soon started making friends. I normally travel alone and arrange my own transportation, but there’s no way I could have arranged all the different transport we used and seen most the sites we visited.

Tour Code

VN

5Chris Geary,
26/11/14

What was the highlight or most memorable moment of your tour?

Really there were several highlights. We particularly enjoyed the tailor-made part you provided at the start, especially the rainforest experience, but Hoi An was really nice and we enjoyed visiting the places around the Mekong Delta.

He was very good. His English was excellent as was his knowledge of the particular sites and Vietnam in general. His manner was always very warm and helpful and, frequently, amusing. He was always very well organised and ensured we were fully aware of what was happening next.

What Tips Would You Give To Someone Else Booking This Tour

Ensure you are fully aware of the tipping protocul

4.5Terry Edden,
24/11/14

What was the highlight or most memorable moment of your tour?

The many varied trips and the culture of the people and country. A life changing experience!
Very small group only 7. Could not have been improved.

Excellent!! whent well bejond what would have been expected of her. Very very friendly and informative.

What Tips Would You Give To Someone Else Booking This Tour

Take less clothing in case of cold weather. So hot clothes could be washed and dried in a day!
Practice getting use to the fact that 100000 dongs is only just over £3!!!!- difficult to get your head round!!

Do You Have Anything Else To Add

Go for it! What an experience!

5KELLY,
15/11/14

What was the highlight or most memorable moment of your tour?

Lots of memorable and amazing experiences for me….. Hanoi – The night market (fantastic fun and goes on for miles!) Halong Bay – Waking up early and seeing the sunrise, also the cruise, absolutely breath taking. The overnight train from Hanoi to Hue – Entertaining other passengers with the group playing the “post it note” game. Take a sleeping bag liner! Hue – The blind massage, a once in a lifetime experience Hoi An – The visit to My Son, shopping, cycling, seeing local crafts being carried out, Mr Hong’s cookery class Mekong Delta – Being made to feel welcome by a family, the coconut candy (especially nice when warm!) Ho Chi Minh City – The massages, Food, Cocktails, Cu Chi War Tunnels.

Diem is an amazing tour leader; he is adaptable to the different needs of the group and interacted with everybody well. He has a fantastic sense of humor and his English was amazing. Nothing was ever too much trouble for him and he was there for the group (checking up on people if they had been ill), and I hope we weren’t too much trouble for him! What also impressed me about Diem was that if you wanted to do something that wasn’t on the programme for example the blind massage he would advise on the best places to go. He gave the group fantastic advice when in places, such as getting tailored made clothes and ensuring you get a sample of material so you know its being made with the material you requested. Diem was amazing when there was change of hotels in Hoi An and the rooms initially not to a great standard, he listened to peoples concerns and complaints and not being phased he secured everyone a room change.

What Tips Would You Give To Someone Else Booking This Tour

Best advice I can give to someone booking the inside Vietnam trip would be travel light!!! The shopping opportunities are amazing and doing up the bag at the end was definitely a squeeze! Apart from taking a sleeping bag liner (perfect for the overnight train and was all I needed at the home stay as the weather was so warm at night) and it’s a fantastic trip loads of different opportunities I had an amazing time.

5Steph,
08/11/14

What was the highlight or most memorable moment of your tour?

Everything was a highlight but I specifically enjoyed the Mekong Homestay and Halong Bay.

A great leader who shared his knowledge of his country to enhance the experience and who added to the great group dynamic. Coping with 18 people with different needs is never going to be easy but everyone was catered for and he had the knack of being tough when he needed to be.

What Tips Would You Give To Someone Else Booking This Tour

We took clothes for cooler conditions, there weren't any! Be prepared for some early starts. Most of all though be prepared to dive in and enjoy the experience.

Do You Have Anything Else To Add

This was our first group holiday and first with Explore. If this is typical of both then it will not be our last. Looked after from start to finish and a great group of people to share the experience with.

5Claire Satchell,
17/04/14

What was the highlight or most memorable moment of your tour?

This was my first time travelling to Vietnam and SE Asia and it was a brilliant experience. There were so many highlights. It was great to have a combination of cities and countryside. Each place we visited was so diverse and fascinating. Re-learning to cross the road as you watch the mopeds drive around you is something I will never forget. My favourite place was Hoi An. It’s great to enjoy a meal (all of the food is amazing there) or a drink at one of the riverside restaurants and watch the world go by or shop for souvenirs and clothes in its many shops.

Taking the small long boat through the Mekong Delta to arrive on the river-banks of our Hospitality Home Visit. We stepped off back into history where we were greeted with warmth from our hosts. Following a superb home cooked dinner we sat outside watching the stars and listening to the evening night sounds - we were in Paradise.

We could not have asked for a better Tour Leader - he was knowledgeable, fun, organised and caring. He took special care of each member in the group and ensured that everyone's needs were met. He shared his own life story on top of an in-depth explanation of each place we visited. This transformed the experienced into a personal and meaningful way to understand the real life of Vietnam.

What Tips Would You Give To Someone Else Booking This Tour

Don't hesitate. Don't think twice to book. I had never travelled alone before and I couldn't believe how easy it was to join a group of strangers and within hours we formed a tight-knit fun and supportive team. As for Vietnam you will experience a different world of landscape, culture and history. I am already ready to book my next Explore tour.

Do You Have Anything Else To Add

I have a particular diet that has to be followed and I was impressed how Explore ensured that at each venue they sorted this out. I felt throughout the two weeks in safe hands and never had to concern myself about anything, other than have a wonderful, exciting and adventurous time.

4,
27/01/14

Name

Darcy Hurford

Tour Name

Inside Vietnam

Tour Code

VN

What Was The Highlight Or Most Memorable Moment Of Your Tour

There were quite a few. Celebrating New Year's Eve outside some random hotel in Halong Bay with crowds of excited (but friendly and sober) Vietnamese teenagers was fun, as was window shopping in Hoi An and visiting temples in Ho Chi Minh City.

How Was Your Explore Tour Leader

Great (even he likes Top Gear a lot more than I do).

What Tips Would You Give To Someone Else Booking This Tour

Hanoi is colder than you might think in late December/early January, so bring suitable clothes. And after crossing the road a few times in Vietnam you will never look at UK traffic the same way again!

Do You Have Anything Else To Add

It was a shame the simple homestay in the Mekong Delta has been changed to a hotel - and there was no visit to a floating market. I think the tour notes should be changed to reflect this.

Our Response

Thank you for your review.

We were very surprised to hear that you did not visit the floating markets on your trip and we have followed this up with our local agent to ensure each group visits the markets.

We have now also changed the accommodation in Ben Tre for our 2014 tours and have reverted back to staying in the homestay. At the end of 2013, the homestay was undergoing maintenance and building work so we could not use it during this time, however now the work has finished; we are using the homestay again for our tour groups.

5,
15/08/13

Name

Shona

Tour Code

VN

What Was The Highlight Or Most Memorable Moment Of Your Tour

"Mekong sail and ha long bay, also crossing road in hanoi most memorable. unforgettable: cu chi tunnels and war crimes museum. most fun: shopping in hoi an."

Tour Leader Name

HUA

How Was Your Explore Tour Leader

Extremely well organised and willing to share personal experiences of recent history.

What Tips Would You Give To Someone Else Booking This Tour

"In hoi an look around tailors etc early in the morning and get your orders in by 10, you'll then have plenty of time for fittings. in saigon recommend la habana bar for a lively last night[very good live music],turn left out of asian ruby hotel then first left and its about half way down the block."

Do You Have Anything Else To Add

"Food excellent if you stick to fish and possibly chicken locals very friendly and helpful if you get lost don't over pack, loads of lovely cheap silk tops and t.shirts available everywhere , I don't normally shop on explore holidays but oh dear!"

4Simon Longworth,
04/04/13

What was the highlight or most memorable moment of your tour?

Halong bay is beautiful but its great to see a country doing so well, lovely people.

Vinh couldnt have been better, he listened to concerns and any were sorted

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

The train journey is dreadful, cockroaches in the sleeper cabins and the toilets overflow on the floor, why not fly this bit Explore? Hotel in Halong bay a bit musty but looked clean, I know others were not that impressed

Do you have anything else to add?

Prices at "group meal restaurants" seem to be inflated for the benifit of the tour company handling the tour for explore in vietnam, this was confirmed at Hoi an, two of us checked the menu the following day and prices were lower, this would explain the lack of menus at the restaurant for the group. I am sure this wasnt the tour leader!!!

Our Response

We are also concerned by your comments on the group meals; menus should always be available so that customers can see clearly what options are available and at what prices. This too is being followed up.

5Jacqueline Lamb,
22/03/13

What was the highlight or most memorable moment of your tour?

The Homestay was very comfortable and our host cooked us a wonderful local meal as well us taking the group to visit a local home occupied by an elderly lady who was welcoming and adorable.

Long was a good guide. He was knowledgeable and gave good insights into history and his country. He was assisted well by Vinh.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Vietnam currency is fine and really all you need, though it is worth taking say $50 for the visa entry to the country and a little spare.Do you have anything else to add?

"In order to improve the holiday experience, I would suggest stopping the Royal meal at Hue – the food was average and it was a somewhat ‘cheesy’ night.

Furthermore, we felt that a number of the restaurants that we went to with the group were average rather than good and that was slightly disappointing as everyone had told us prior to our trip that Vietnam has fabulous food. When we went away from the group, we used the Lonely Planet guide book and we ate at better restaurants.

Whilst we enjoyed the rickshaw ride, it was unsettling to be hassled by the drivers at the end, for bigger tips.

The Hotel in Saigon (Asian Ruby) whilst centrally and well located was poor, the shower was always cold, we had a cockroach in the bathroom and the breakfast was not good."

Our Response

Our Operations Manager has been made aware of the issues you encountered at The Asian Ruby Hotel in Saigon and we will be closely monitoring the feedback we receive from future groups about this hotel. If there has been a drop in standards at this hotel, we will consider utilising alternative accommodation.

0Mel Budd (Explore Staff),
31/12/10

Brilliant! Wow I never thought I'd have to learn how to cross the road again at my age but learn I did. I'm still amazed at what they manage to transport on the back of a bike, has to be seen to be believed. From relaxing in Ha Long bay and the Mekong Delta, shopping in Hoi An to the thought provoking visits to My Lai massacre sight and the Cu Chi tunnels. Everyday of this trip was brought alive by the local tour leader. His knowledge and enthusiam for Vietnam was inspiring. The food was delicious, so fresh and tasty, didn't try dog or chicken feet but the seafood, soups, noodles, rice paper spring rolls etc Yum! Vietnam is a facinating country with wonderful people living there. (VN - 20th November 2010)

0D.M.V,
20/09/10

Day one, Hanoi City- waking early to the sounds of eastern music; loud, close with a tinny piped quality; I'm momentarily confused. Realization quickly dawns; the square opposite the hotel has transformed itself into a huge Tai Chi arena. Many diverse groups, some waving red flags others wielding batons are all moving rhythmically with uninhibited focus. It's immediately exciting, exotic and totally different. in true "Explore" fashion we are thus introduced to Hanoi City and North Vietnam. From learning to cross the road, I joke not (just walk steadily and the millions of motor cycles will part and allow you to cross unscathed) to enjoying Halong Bay with its incredibly dramatic islands we begin to appreciate and love this amazing country. Highlights would have to include; the over night train journey south, dress design and construction in Hoi An for my daughters wedding, the mind blowing Cu Chi tunnels and the beautiful fascinating Mekong Delta complete with home stay. Travelling with Explore has once again been a fabulous experience; educating and thought provoking; leaving enduring, very special memories. (VN- 16th Januray 2010)